Sep
Introducing the Latest Aston Martin: The Valhalla
Aston Martin has yet again taken a dynamic step in a rigorous and highly demanding arena: the hypercar market. It’s called the Valhalla and it’s due to production lines in 2021. Only 500 of the hybrid supercars will be manufactured, each completely clad in carbon fiber and sporting the iconic name. Watch out, Batman! When James Bond gets hold of this machine, the Batmobile might no longer cut it as the coolest of supercool cars in Hollywood.
Is This the Valkyrie, all Grown Up?
It is exciting times for this brand indeed. For the first time since the turn of the millennium, Aston Martin will be making their own engines. Although the technical specs are not out yet (despite rumors of a 1,000 horsepower), the Valhalla is the next generation of the Valkyrie, after the Valkyrie AMR Pro. Considering the continuation of the Norse god naming theme, it makes sense. CEO of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, spoke about this connection. Palmer stated that although the Valkyrie was always intended to be a once-off project, there was also an intention for it to create a new bloodline of exclusive, highly specialized hypercars.
Tech, Tech, and More Tech
Rumors aside, what’s certain is that the Valhalla will have a turbocharged V6 hybrid engine. I can’t wait to hear the juicy details like power output, displacement etc. It will also be oozing with the latest tech. Many of the Valhalla’s components are built using 3D printing and an innovative new oil system makes oil changes in less than 90 seconds possible. The mysterious engine will definitely be able to achieve ridiculous, and totally illegal speeds.
Is it a Car? Is it a Plane?
Its mind-blowing design and superlight body will most likely facilitate otherworldly road handling at those crazy speeds. The active, aerodynamic features are expected to deliver exceptional levels of downforce through a new-fangled technology known as FlexFoil. Endorsed by NASA, FlexFoil physically alters the Valhalla’s rear wing once it begins to pick up speed and drastically improves downforce. In a nutshell, this is aircraft morphing technology, used on a low-flying car on the ground.
Step Inside
Made with what Aston Martin calls ‘space-age’ materials, the interior has a lightweight center console with basic switches. A well-designed dash strip provides ambient lighting and, again, the basics like air vents and speakers. The storage space behind the seats is a nice, practical touch and the screen mounted on the steering column will make it even more pleasant to drive this car, like it can get any better!
Heaven Sent
As always, Aston Martin cars captivate and entertain by telling stories and invoking emotions. This time they’ve decided to name their hypercar Valhalla. According to Norse mythology, Vikings who wage their battles fiercely and die in honor will be carried by Valkyries to a large and majestic hall in Asgard named Valhalla. Naming this hypercar after Viking heaven is quite appropriate. Who can think of anything more heavenly than driving this spaceship on wheels?
Jul
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is Almost Out
The most powerful street-legal Ford ever built is about to hit the road. Are you as stoked as I am about this? After a range of teasers from the press about the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 coming out soon, its actual specs were finally revealed. Clever Ford! While most car manufacturers are pretty open about what their next models will pack, Ford decided to make us petrol heads even more excited about the release of the latest and greatest Mustang, by keeping the juicy details secret for months. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of what makes this Mustang the best by far…
Let’s Just get one Thing out The Way
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a mouthful. And I’ve had more than one discussion with car enthusiasts about the crazy long name. Some say that it’s such a powerful piece of machinery, it deserves an effusive, wordy name. Others say the car should (and does) speak for itself and Ford should shorten it. Either way, have you ever wondered where it comes from? The Ford part is obvious, Ford is the manufacturer, and Mustang is the model. Shelby is the name of the man responsible for these mean machines, and the GT500 is to say that this is a big block car and not a small block like the GT350.
Another interesting fact about the name is that it took a while before it was chosen. Names like Torino, Panther, Comet, Colt and Stiletto were suggested. One of the names that were strongly considered was Cougar. I don’t like any of them, Mustang is just fine, thanks. Even if the rest of it makes it long.
Now let’s talk about those specs.
0-60 in Just Over 3 Seconds and This is Why
Powered by a hand-assembled 5.2-liter aluminium alloy V8 engine which, by the sound of it, works in perfect harmony with the supercharger. Even though it’s not a Voodoo engine, it’s definitely packing some magic and produces a spine-tingling roar. The quad exhaust with five-inch outlets is just what this beast needs and the all-new 7-speed DCT gearbox undoubtedly makes it a fun driving experience. Who doesn’t love powerful acceleration at low speeds and a steady growl at high speeds? Yes, I know there’s no manual transmission available and I also enjoy being complete control of the four wheels I’m playing with. But hey, we can’t have it all, and this Mustang comes very, very close to perfection.
760 Horses, And Then Some
With a whopping 760 horsepower, 847 Newton-meters of torque, and the most downforce ever in a Mustang (thanks to the front splitter, GT-4-like wing and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres), most car enthusiasts would be thrilled to take one of these formidable cars for a test drive. Add the deliciously aggressive looks, and we are positively drooling. And if you think it can’t get better, check out the pricing! This is a supercar but at a Ford price.
May
The Most Powerful GTI Yet Will Be Launched In October
The countdown has begun for GTI enthusiasts. Excitement is mounting as the launch of the Golf GTI TCR has officially been scheduled for October. And soon after this, the latest and greatest GTI will be making its way to roads around the world.
What’s Taking So Long?
Developing the most recent GTI has been anything but smooth sailing. Volkswagen experienced a lot of pressure with software bugs that delayed the car’s debut. Originally scheduled to take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Golf VIII’s official launch has now been pushed back by a month. But despite delays, GTI fans can still look forward to a debut before the end of the year. According to the media, production will begin around the end of the third quarter and the official market launch is planned to be in Germany at the end of February 2020. As always, VW is promising that pricing will be sharp considering what you get for it.
Power, And So Much More
The GTI TCR flaunts a seven-speed dual clutch transmission that helps drive the 2.0-litre turbo engine with a whopping 213kW of power. This is a massive jump in performance from the max 180kW available until now. In layman’s terms, this machine can knock out the standard 0-100km/h in as little as 5.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 250km/h but for those who need it, it’s possible to have this increased to 260km/h. Why not? Standard features are rumored to include sporty front seats and leather steering, ventilated disk brakes, LED headlights, lane-keeping assist and a completely digital instrument cluster. There’s also the infotainment system that supports over-air updates, which was the feature that gave Volkswagen so many headaches during the development phase. Glad the software bugs are squashed and the headaches sorted, we’re in for a thrilling ride!